Category: Training Tips

Hi all, this is a subject that is always confusing to some and very interesting to others. This information can be interpreted many ways and used forever with new material always cropping up. Take a look!

The ABC’s Training Method

· Stage 1: One Block, one hit
· Stage 2: One Block, two hits
· Stage 3: One Block, three hits
· Stage 4: Receive two hits (1-1,1-2, 1-3, through 12, then 2-1, 2-2, 3-3 and etc)
· Stage 5: Receive three hits
· Stage 6: Receive fakes (fake the 1, give the 1, fake the 2, give the 2 and etc)
· Stage 7: Utilize different weapons
Using different weapons
Receiving different weapons
Using different locks
Receiving different locks (counters)
Using different takedowns
Receiving different takedowns (counters)
· Stage 8: Receive while retreating
· Stage 9: Receive while moving right to left or left to right
· Stage 10: Receive while circling
· Stage 11: Receive low to high or high to low
· Stage 12: Receive on different terrain or environment

Note: Stages 1 - 7 are trained in a stationary posture
Note: Stages 8 - 12 focus on footwork while blocking and countering

ABC’s Weapon Progression

· Stage 1: Stick vs. Stick
Strike with middle of stick
Strike with tip of the stick
Strike with butt of the stick
· Stage 2: Stick vs. Stick and Knife
· Stage 3: Stick and Knife vs. Stick and Knife
· Stage 4: Double stick vs. Double stick
· Stage 5: Double stick vs. Stick and Knife
· Stage 6: Single Knife vs. Double Knife
· Stage 7: Double Knife vs. Double Knife

Sparring Template

BASE VS. A B C D E

1) S/S S/S D/S K EH SAK
2) D/S D/S K EH SAK S/S
3) K K EH SAK S/S D/S
4) EH EH SAK S/S D/S K
5) SAK SAK S/S D/S K EH
6) P S/S D/S K EH SAK
7) D/D D/D P S/S D/S EH
ST S/S D/S EH PS K
9) P/S DP/S S/S K EH SAK
10) D/PS S/S D/S EH SAK PS
11) R S/S D/S EH SAK PS

Legend:

S/S - Single Stick ST- Staff
D/S - Double Stick D/D - Double Knife
EH - Empty Hand K - Knife
P/S - Palm Stick R- Rope
SAK - Stick and Knife D/PS - Double PS

As Grand Master Ernesto used to say, “Play, go to work”!

This week’s training tip will cover block and attack patterns. For Korean Martial artists, you might  recognize these as free form 3 steps. These drills should be used in the the middle range or close range attacks. They can be practiced solo, versus any prepared, freestyle weapon or empty hand attack. Remember zoning footwork and torso positioning. In the course of advanced striking, remember to either grab or check the attack when applicable during this process.

This list documents only the next strike above the basic drill. No one is saying that you cannot continue with more strikes! Remember my rule of three’s! For those that train in weapons with me or happen to train in any number of Filipino bladed arts this multiple attack response will take you right into Sinawali or stick weaving patterns and Tapi Tapi trapping hands drills.

Okay, enough already, here we go…

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Set One - Same side block, attack and an opposite hand attack: Two count drill

• Express pattern through double sticks
• Express through single stick, a) right handed, b) left handed
• Express through knife, a) right handed, b) left handed
• Express through empty hands, a) right handed, b) left handed

Set Two - Cross body block, attack, and an opposite hand attack: Three count drill

• Express pattern through double sticks
• Express through single stick, a) right handed, b) left handed
• Express through knife, a) right handed, b) left handed
• Express through empty hands, a) right handed, b) left handed

Set Three - Same side block, Parry, Attack and Opposite hand attack: a four count drill

• Express pattern through double sticks
• Express through single stick, a) right handed, b) left handed
• Express through knife, a) right handed, b) left handed
• Express through empty hands, a) right handed, b) left handed

Set Four - Same side block, Cross body block/strike, same side attack, opposite hand attack: A four count drill

• Express pattern through double sticks
• Express through single stick, a) right handed, b) left handed
• Express through knife, a) right handed, b) left handed
• Express through empty hands, a) right handed, b) left handed

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Okay, chew on that for awhile. Remember to move or zone away before you start counter-attacking. It is also important to remember that the cross body block can only come when the economy of motion dictates that the opposite side of the attack is the most efficient way to block or intercept the attack. Lastly, the Block, Parry, Strike response can only come when the economy of motion dictates that this is the most efficient way to move.Instructors…this progression properly develops a student through the skill buildling process of moving, blocking, disarming, striking, and executing follow-up counter attacks. Few if any systems will have this common sense progression, this natural maturation of movement development.

Good luck, Let’s Get Training!

Footwork is extremely important while fighting. As I teach it, there are two sets of stepping patterns. The “V” series and the “+” series. To go along with those stepping patterns, we need to discuss phases to a fight. As I have said many times before, there are typically three phases to a fight. They are:

1. Early phase - All defense and the following offensive techniques begin and end in the first few moves of the attacker.
2. Middle phase - This phase can be alluded to stopping the fight once you and the opponent have both exchanged a technique or two and then you finish the fight with a debilitating techniqe to one of the 6 major components of the body.
3. Late phase - This phase is simply about a battle, where both opponents trade blows back and forth until one can no longer stand.

Footwork can make or break your ability to get away from your opponent’s tools, and deliver your own defensive technique and follow up with a series of offensive ones. The stepping pattern you use mainly depends on which type of “phase fighter” you are. This post will talk about the female of the footwork patterns or the fighting V.

Figure one and two shows the left side of the basic “female V” pattern.

(figure 1), (figure 2)

Notice that in figure 1, my posture in the fighting stance is upright, covered and springy. Prepared to move in any direction indicated with the two sticks. In figure 2, I have moved along the left side of the female pattern and aligned my body in height, width, and angulation to match the attacking posture of my opponent. This posture is extremely important for the defense. Next, let’s show how we take this angulation and use it to deliver blocking or striking. 

(figure 3), (figure 4)

Figure 3 shows a close up of the hand positioning while I do the left side evasion, using the female pattern. Both hands are up in the window of combat prepared to remove barriers, assume a clinch position or to strike. Figure 4, shows Matt Munson attacking, I used the female stepping pattern to evade and block. Then, I simply pivoted on my heel and ball of foot and returned a over the bridge counter attack (These techniques and terms can be found in the American Combat Taekwondo Instructor’s Manual and in the Standing Grappling DVD series).

Remember to think about body angulation while stepping. Look at these following photos taking into account of the body posture while blocking or striking.

 

(figure 5)          (figure 6)          (figure 7)          (figure8 )

You will notice that in each photo, the body is postured a little different to facilitate the technique being delivered. Remember the defensive technique doesn’t always change just because the tool is different. An attack delivered with a shovel at angle #1 can most times be defended with the same technique even if the attack is delivered with a knife.

So, remember when you do your stepping pattern practice to keep your body posture and angulation in mind. Until we meet again, Let’s get Training!

Jim